Convertible top boot attaching arrangement

Abstract

An improved fastening arrangement provides for easy and quick attachment of a convertible top boot to a vehicle body. A plurality of plastic J-section fastener strips each have a forwardly extending planar pad portion, an intermediate arcuate resilient web portion, and a rearwardly extending hook-shaped portion. The pad portion is adapted for flush mounting to the underside of a boot backing panel by a plurality of rivets. The hook-shaped portion free edge is formed with an enlarged locking bead coextensive therewith. A retainer member, mounted on the body upper deck aft of the storage well, provides a transversely extending upwardly opening lead-in gap and subjacent enlarged furrow. The bead is adapted for releasable engagement in a self-seeking manner in undercut fittable retainer groove of the furrow upon snap-action passage through the lead-in gap that is hidden from view by the overlying boot.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a motor vehicle body having a foldable convertible top, a storage well in the vehicle body for receiving the foldable top, and a convertible top boot for overlying the storage well when the top is stored therein, a boot attaching arrangement comprising: a well opening extending generally transversely of the vehicle body, said well opening being defined along an aft periphery thereof by a coextensive retainer member secured to the vehicle body, said retainer member having engagement means associated therein; and   said convertible top boot adapted to cover said well opening, said boot have at least one peripheral edge stiffener panel adapted to overlie said retainer member, fastener means secured to an underside of said stiffener panel, said fastener means adapted for locking attachment to said engagement means, the improvement in said boot attaching arrangement comprising:   said fastener means defined by a plurality of plastic J-section fastener strips, each said fastener strip comprising a forwardly extending planar pad portion and a rearwardly extending hook-shaped portion interconnected by an intermediate downwardly curved arcuate flexible web portion;   each said pad portion mounted in a flush manner on said underside, each said hood-shaped portion extending rearwardly from the arcuate web portion thereof and terminating in a downwardly curved flange, each said curved flange having a free edge thereof formed with an enlarged locking bead portion coextensive therewith;   said engagement means comprising a transversely extending upwardly opening lead-in gap, said lead-in gap defined by a forward upstanding detent rib portion having a vertically disposed forwardly facing arcuate cam surface, said arcuate cam surface terminating in a curved upper edge followed by a rearwardly and downwardly sloped arcuate guide shoulder, said arcuate guide shoulder defining, with a rearwardly spaced opposed curved stop shoulder, said lead-in gap having a predetermined longitudinal dimension through which said bead portion is passed, said lead-in gap providing an entrance of an upwardly opening circular sectioned releasably latching furrow forming in said detent rib portion an undercut fittable groove of arcuate shaped section; and   whereby upon an installer applying a combined downward and rearward force on said stiffener panel causing each said intermediate arcuate web portion to resiliently flex such that each said bead portion is initially passed through said lead-in gap for reception in said latching furrow and upon each said hook-shaped portion resiliently riding over said upstanding detent rib portion and contacting said stop shoulder, said latching furrow accommodating each said bead portion for subsequent interlocking capture in said fittable groove, the installer ceases the application of the combined force without requiring the installer to view said boot attaching arrangement.